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Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew: praying for creation

In this May 25, 2014 file photo, Pope Francis stands with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I as they meet outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre - AP

01/09/2017 13:37

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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has issued a Joint Message with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, to mark the Sept. 1stWorld Day of Prayer for Creation.

Released on Friday morning, the Message invites all the faithful and every person of good will to reflect prayerfully on how to live in a simply and use the goods of the created order responsibly.

Focus on prayerful solidarity

“On this occasion,” the Joint Message from Francis and Bartholomew reads, “we wish to offer thanks to the loving Creator for the noble gift of creation and to pledge commitment to its care and preservation for the sake of future generations.”

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The Message goes on to say, “We urgently appeal to those in positions of social and economic, as well as political and cultural, responsibility to hear the cry of the earth and to attend to the needs of the marginalized, but above all to respond to the plea of millions and support the consensus of the world for the healing of our wounded creation.”

History

The Orthodox Church has commemorated this Day since 1989, when Patriarch Bartholomew instituted the annual recurrence.

Pope Francis made the World Day of Prayer for Creation a Catholic celebration in 2015.